If you choose to provide the Information About Brokerage Services form via email, you’re allowed to link to it as long as you make a reference to the form in the body of the email. (That’s the part above the signature block—your name and contact information.)
Create an email signature that references and links to the IABS form above your name. Then every email you create will automatically include the required notice in accordance with TREC rules.
Here’s an example of an email signature that correctly links to the IABS form.
Thanks,
Jane Doe, REALTOR®
1234 Main St.
800-555-1212
The email signature below is not in compliance with TREC rules regarding the IABS form, because the form is not referenced in the body of the email—above the name and contact information.
Thanks,
Jane Doe, REALTOR®
1234 Main St.
800-555-1212Texas Real Estate Commission Information About Brokerage Services
Note: The link in these examples goes to texasrealestate.com for illustrative purposes. You should link to a copy of the IABS form that’s completed with your information.
For more information about properly providing the Information About Brokerage Services form, visit the Texas Real Estate Commission’s website.
I think you should also be aware that the link cannot appear to be part of a Signature. I realize that technically (within the mail client) that it is being done that way, but the rules require the link to be part of the communication, and specifically dis-allow it being part of the signature of the communication.
In addition, the IABS should not be provided without all of the appropriate information included at the bottom of the form included.
This is all about what constitutes “delivery” of the IABS to a potential client. The absolutely correct way to deliver the form in an email is to make reference to “sending a copy” of the form in whatever words you choose to use, but only in the body of the email. The long winded phrase “Texas law requires all license holders to provide the Information About Brokerage Services form to prospective clients” and others that seem to go on forever are not required. After informing your email recipient that this email is to deliver the form, you are required to… Read more »
Larry, It seems to me that somewhere, I read that attaching the pdf is not sufficient. Do you have the rule that says you can do that?
The link that you provide as being in compliance doesn’t take the consumer to the IABS. It takes them to the TAR website. I notice this link in many emails but when you click to view – goes to TAR website and not easy at all for the consumer to navigate and look for the IABS.
Rosalinda …… You are referencing the EXAMPLE that TAR used in their explanation of how to place it correctly.
They put this Note in the explanation. Good luck. Try Classroom CE for your next renewal.
From ABOVE:
“Note: The link in these examples goes to texasrealestate.com for illustrative purposes. You should link to a copy of the IABS form that’s completed with your information.”
Sorry – jumped the gun when i sent email! I read down and and saw that the link was an example – realized it almost immediately. Clicked on the send button too quick! Yikes.
agreed!
Article explained itself well – for that, thank you. But… Instead of helping clients with purchasing and selling homes (i.e. providing a quality service), Real Estate agents are tasked with menial, pointless, paper-pushing duties like making sure a link is in a correct position of an email (that buyers/sellers never click on), or that a statement or heading is properly worded (which clients never read), among other trivial “responsibilities”. Perhaps the red-stamping bureaucrats should find an actual job instead of telling others how to do there’s and wasting valuable time and money. As a buyer/seller, I’d rather my agent spend… Read more »
I totally agree! I have not changed my mind about this either after years in. ABOR, TREC, NAR, TAR should create our email signatures and provide them free of charge…all sorts of choices and branding. They sure charge enough quarterly…not to mention the classes we pay for that do not help.
It is to my understanding to retrieve the form, complete as instructed save it to your computer, go to your website and download it to your website. Remember all clients are not as computer literate. We can’t get so caught up in technology, and forget, some of our clients are not always successful in computer technology. We must have it available simple. G. O’Quinn,Licensee,Degreed,Realtor,
AAS,BSCJ,MSAJ,
“Realtor with a Master’s in Justice”
I may be wrong, but shouldn’t the brokerage name be part of the signature to be compliant with 535.155?
Disclaimer: I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY AND THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVISE! That out of the way, I’m assuming you are referring to 535.155(b)(1), the definition of “Advertisement” where it says “all electronic medial including email…” I’d be interested to hear a legal interpretation from TAR or TREC. My take on it is that a standard email is excluded from this definition because usually a standard email isn’t “designed to attract the public to use real estate brokerage services.” That is more your e-blast marketing emails, not individual emails. Even if you are trying to land a client, is direct… Read more »
Where did you get any of this? Can you site where the signature vs body designation is made by TREC?
https://www.trec.texas.gov/does-link-iabs-form-my-email-signature-satisfy-representation-disclosure-required-trela-%C2%A71101558
So I see the proper link – how do I put it in my signature??
This is all ridiculous in many realtors and agents opinion.
Can a IABS be considered a substitution for a representation agreement?